Centrifugal separator

Abstract

A centrifugal separator for separating particles from gases is a vortex chamber composed of cooling planar plates or panels (i.e. they are distinctly non-cylindrical), having at least one gas inlet, at least one gas outlet and at least one outlet for the separated particles. The cross section of the side walls of the vortex chamber forms a distinctly non-circular gas space (e.g. a polygonal cross section), have a circularity of greater than 1, e.g. ≧1.1, and preferably ≧1.15. One or more vertical, parallel gas vortices may be created in the vortex chamber, the gas introduced into vertical narrow slots. The outlets for separated particles are not on the same symmetrical axes as the outlets for purified gas. Two adjacent vortices may be provided in a common rectangular chamber. The separator is preferably in conjunction with a circulating fluidized bed reactor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A centrifugal separator for separating particles from gases, consisting essentially of a vertical vortex chamber which has walls defining an interior gas space, an upper section, and a lower section, the gas space having a cross section; at least one inlet for particle laden gases to be purified, disposed in the upper section of said vortex chamber;   at least one purified gas outlet from said vortex chamber;   at least one outlet for separated particles, disposed in the lower section of said vortex chamber; said at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and vortex chamber defining a plurality of vertical gas vortices in said vortex chamber; and   said vortex chamber walls being defined by substantially planar walls, and being distinctly non-cylindrical, and the cross section of said gas space being substantially quadrate.   
     
     
       2. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 1, wherein said vortex chamber is provided with one gas inlet per two gas outlets and wherein two gas vortices, each gas vortex having its own associated outlet, is provided for each gas inlet. 
     
     
       3. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 1, wherein a partition wall extending from one long side wall of the vortex chamber to the other is disposed between at least two gas vortices in the vortex chamber, said partition wall serving as a support element for the long side walls. 
     
     
       4. A centrifugal separator for separating particles from gases, comprising a vertical vortex chamber which has walls defining an interior gas space, an upper section, and a lower section, said gas space having a cross section; at least one inlet for gases to be purified, disposed in the upper section of the vortex chamber;   at least one outlet for the purified gases, from the vortex chamber;   at least one outlet for the separated particles, disposed in the lower section of the vortex chamber; said inlet, outlets and vortex chamber defining at least one vertical gas vortex in the vortex chamber;   said vortex chamber walls being distinctly non-cylindrical, and the cross section of said gas space being distinctly non-circular, having a circularity greater than 1; and   wherein at least two opposite side walls of the upper section of the vortex chamber are formed by fluid circulating cooling surfaces.   
     
     
       5. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 4, wherein all side walls of the vortex chamber are formed by fluid circulating cooling surfaces. 
     
     
       6. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 4, wherein the cross section of the gas space defined by the side walls of said vortex chamber is in the shape of a rectangle having long side walls two or more times the length of short side walls; and wherein two or more gas vortices are created in said vortex chamber. 
     
     
       7. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 4, where the gas space is defined by inner surfaces, and wherein the inner surfaces defining the gas space of the vortex chamber are lined with a thin layer of abrasion resistant refractory material. 
     
     
       8. A centrifugal separator for separating particles from gases, comprising a vertical vortex chamber which has walls defining an interior gas space, an upper section, and a lower section, said gas space having a cross section; at least one inlet for gases to be purified, disposed in the upper section of the vortex chamber;   at least one outlet for the purified gases, from the vortex chamber;   at least one outlet for the separated particles, disposed in the lower section of the vortex chamber; said inlet, outlets and vortex chamber defining at least one vertical gas vortex in the vortex chamber;   said vortex chamber walls being substantially planar and the cross section of said gas space being distinctly non-circular, having a circularity greater than 1; and   wherein the gas inlet or inlets are in the shape of vertical narrow slots.   
     
     
       9. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 8, wherein the upper section of the vortex chamber has a height, and wherein the slot or slots are approximately of the same height as the upper section of the vortex chamber. 
     
     
       10. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 8, wherein the cross section of the gas space in the upper section of the vortex chamber is substantially constant at different elevations. 
     
     
       11. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 8, wherein the cross-sectional area of the gas space in the lower section of the vortex chamber is downwardly decreasing. 
     
     
       12. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one wall in the lower section of the vortex chamber is inclined to as to reduce the gas space in the downwardly direction. 
     
     
       13. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 12, wherein two opposite walls in the lower section of the vortex chamber approach each other in the downward direction so that the lower section forms a slot. 
     
     
       14. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 12, wherein one wall in the lower section of the vortex chamber approaches the opposite wall so that a slot is formed in the lower section. 
     
     
       15. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one outlet for separated particles has a size, and wherein one or more walls in the lower section of the vortex chamber approach each other in such a manner that, in the lower section of the vortex chamber is formed a slot or channel of substantially the size of the outlet for the separated particles. 
     
     
       16. A centrifugal separator for separating particles from gases, comprising a vertical vortex chamber which has walls defining an interior gas space, an upper section, and a lower section, the gas space having a cross section; at least one inlet for gases to be purified, disposed in the upper section of the vortex chamber;   at least one outlet for the purified gases, from the vortex chamber;   at least one outlet for the separated particles, disposed in the lower section of the vortex chamber; said inlet, outlets and vortex chamber defining at least one vertical gas vortex in the vortex chamber;   said vortex chamber walls being distinctly non-cylindrical, and the cross section of said gas space being distinctly non-circular, having a circularity greater than 1; and   wherein the outlet or outlets for the separated particles are not on the same symmetrical vertical axis as the outlet or outlets for the purified gases, said outlet or outlets for said purified gases being vertical and centrally disposed with respect to a gas vortex or vortices in said vortex chamber.   
     
     
       17. A centrifugal separator for separating particles from gases, comprising a vertical vortex chamber which has walls defining an interior gas space, an upper section, and a lower section, said gas space having a cross section; at least one inlet for particle laden gases to be purified, disposed in the upper section of the vortex chamber;   at least one outlet for the purified gases, from the vortex chamber;   at least one outlet for the separated particles, disposed in the lower section of the vortex chamber; said inlet, outlets and vortex chamber defining at least one vertical ga vortex in the vortex chamber;   said vortex chamber walls being distinctly non-cylindrical, and the cross section of said gas space being distinctly non-circular, having a circularity greater than 1; and   wherein the centrifugal separator comprises at least two adjacently disposed vortex chambers, one wall of each of said vortex chambers being formed by a single tube panel connecting the vortex chambers, and two adjacent vortex chambers having one common gas inlet.   
     
     
       18. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 17, wherein the centrifugal separator comprises of at least two adjacently disposed vortex chambers, two opposite walls of said vortex chambers being formed of two tube panels connecting the vortex chambers. 
     
     
       19. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 17, wherein two adjacent vortex chambers have one common wall. 
     
     
       20. A centrifugal separator as recited in claim 17 wherein aid tube panel has a first portion which forms a wall in a first vortex chamber, and a second portion which forms a wall in a second vortex chamber adjacent to said first vortex chamber. 
     
     
       21. A circulating fluidized bed reactor, comprising: a reactor chamber, restricted horizontally mainly by vertical planar or curved walls or by cylindrical walls;   means for introducing fluidizing gas into the reactor chamber;   a duct for feeding fuel or other solid material into the reactor chamber;   a centrifugal separator connected to the reactor chamber, said separator comprising a vortex chamber, for separating solid particles from gases discharged from the reactor chamber;   a return duct for recirculating separated solid particles from the separator into the reactor chamber;   a gas outlet for discharging gas from the separator; and   said centrifugal separator comprising a vertical vortex chamber which has walls defining an interior gas space, said vortex chamber walls being distinctly non-cylindrical, and said gas space having a cross section that is distinctly non-circular, having a circularity greater than 1.   
     
     
       22. A circulating fluidized bed reactor as recited in claim 21 wherein the circularity of the cross section of the gas space of the vortex chamber is greater than or equal to 1.1. 
     
     
       23. A circulating fluidized bed reactor as recited in claim 21 wherein the circularity of the cross section of the gas space of the vortex chamber is greater than or equal to 1.15. 
     
     
       24. A circulating fluidized bed reactor as recited in claim 21 wherein said gas space has a substantially quadrate cross section.